D                          G                D                     A7
One night it was dark and it was storming when along came a tramp in the rain
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
He was making his way to some station to catch a long distance train


[Verse 2]
        D                          G                D                     A7
May I sleep in your barn tonight Mister for it is cold lying out on the ground
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
And the cold north wind is whistling and I have no place to lie down
       D                     G             D                       A7
Now I have no tobacco nor matches and I'm sure I can cause you no harm
        D           D7         G             D               A7           D
I will tell you my story kind Mister for it runs through my heart like a storm


[Verse 3]
      D                          G                D                     A7
It was three years ago just last summer Ill never forget that sad day
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
When a stranger came out from the city and said that he wanted to stay
      D                          G                D                     A7
Now the stranger was tall, dark, and handsome and he looked like a man who had wealth
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
And he wanted to stay in the country said he wanted to stay for his health


[Verse 4]
      D                          G                D                     A7
My wife said shed like to be earning some money to have for her own
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
She coaxed til I finally consented that the stranger could stay in our home


[Verse 5]
      D                          G                D                     A7
One night as I came from my workshop I was whistling and singing with joy
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
I expected a kind hearty welcome from my sweet loving wife and my boy
      D                          G                D                     A7
But what did I find but a letter it was placed in my room on the stand
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
And the moment my eyes fell upon it, I had taken it up in my hand


[Verse 5]
      D                          G                D                     A7
Now this note said my wife and the stranger had left and had taken my son
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
Oh I wonder if God up in heaven only knows what this stranger has done
      D                          G                D                     A7
May I sleep in your barn Mister it is cold lying out on the ground
         D          D7         G             D      A7            D
And the cold north wind is a whistling and I have no place to lie down